Spot on Cheesecake Factory Copycat Louisiana Chicken Pasta recipe with their addicting spicy Cajun cream sauce and crispy breaded chicken!
If there is a ranking list of the Cheesecake Factory menu, their popular Cajun Jambalaya Pasta is on it. But that’s not their only spicy Pasta Recipe! This Louisiana Chicken Pasta has the same bold flavors plus crispy chicken – it’s definitely a must try!
Table of contents
Sabrina’s Louisiana Chicken Pasta Copycat
There are so many winning dishes across all categories on The Cheesecake Factory menu, it’s truly hard to pick a top recipe. My personal go-to order is Spicy Cashew Chicken with some Tamale Corn Cakes to start. And what table order would be complete without the iconic Avocado Egg Rolls? But I have to tell you – their Louisiana Chicken Pasta is a sleeper pick!
What’s so great about this dish? Well first of all the chicken is super crispy, and well seasoned with Cajun spices and Parmesan Cheese. The sauce is creamy with more Cajun bite and the veggies add some nice texture. And while it does have a long list of ingredients and steps, I promise, this amazing pasta is easier than you’d think to make at home.
Detailed Instructions
Time needed: 40 minutes.
- Mix Sauce
In a medium bowl, add the sauce ingredients. Whisk together until combined. Set aside for now.
- Cook Pasta
Bring a large pot of water to boil. Cook the pasta for a minute less than the package instructions for al dente. Drain the pasta but do not rinse it.
- Breading Station
In one shallow bowl, combine the flour, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, salt and pepper. In a second shallow bowl, whisk the eggs until you don’t see any streaks of egg white. Have a parchment lined baking tray to rest the chicken.
- Coat the Chicken
Dredge a piece of chicken in the breadcrumb mixture. Dip completely into the eggs, then return it to the breadcrumb mixture, turning to coat completely. Set the chicken on the baking tray and repeat with the rest of the chicken.
- Saute the Veggies
In a large cast iron skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the bell peppers, onion, garlic, and mushrooms. Saute for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally until they are starting to brown but not softened fully. Transfer veggies from the pan to a plate.
- Fry the Chicken
Add ¼ cup of oil to the pan. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken and cook for 3-5 minutes on each side, until it’s crispy and golden brown. Place the chicken on a wire cooling rack or baking sheet.
- Sauce
Drain the oil from the pan. Add the pasta, veggies and sauce mixture to the pan. Stir occasionally for 3-5 minutes while the sauce gets hot and thickens.
- Serve
While the sauce cooks, slice the chicken into strips. Plate the pasta in a shallow bowl or pasta dish. Arrange the chicken pieces over the top and serve with extra Parmesan and freshly chopped parsley.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
CAJUN CREAM SAUCE
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 cup Parmesan Cheese , shredded
CRISPY PARMESAN CHICKEN
- 4 chicken breasts , butterflied
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese , grated
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 large eggs
- 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
PASTA
- 1 lb Farfalle pasta
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper , sliced
- 1/2 red bell pepper , sliced
- 1/2 red onion , sliced
- 8 ounces crimini mushrooms , sliced
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1/4 cup parsley , for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Mix the Sauce ingredients together and set aside.
- Set a large pot of water to boil and cook the pasta to a minute shy of what is listed on the box.
- Drain but do not rinse.
- Mix the flour, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, Kosher salt and black pepper together in one bowl.
- In a second bowl whisk the eggs.
- Dredge each piece of chicken into the breadcrumb mixture, then into the eggs, and finally back into the breadcrumb mixture.*
- Let chicken sit on a tray while you cook the vegetables.
- Melt butter in cast iron skillet over medium heat and add the bell peppers, onion, garlic and mushrooms.
- Cook for 3-5 minutes until just starting to brown but not break down.
- Remove the vegetables from the pan.
- Add the ¼ cup oil and let it get hot. Cook the chicken until crispy and golden brown, 3-5 minutes on each side.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and drain the oil.
- Add the pasta and vegetables to the pan with the sauce mixture.
- Let thicken and stir for 3-5 minutes.
- While the sauce is cooking slice up the chicken.
- Serve the pasta with the sliced chicken on top and extra Parmesan as desired.
Notes
Nutrition
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How to Butterfly Chicken Breast
- Start with a boneless skinless chicken breast flat on a cutting board.
- Using a sharp large chef’s knife, start along the long side of the breast.
- Place your knife half way up the breast (from the cutting board) and carefully cut through the one side to the other long side, stopping before you cut through fully.
- Use one hand to gently press down on the breast to anchor it as you are cutting.
- You should be able to open the breast like a book but have it be one large, thin piece.
- Using a meat mallet, gently pound the halves in any larger areas so that they are even across.
Chef’s Note: Copycat Recipes
I love creating copycat recipes because it lets my readers try a new dish at home without that “order regret”. If you are like me, I have my go-to dishes at most places. It’s hard to try something new because what if it ends up not as good as our usual order? In fact, I only discovered this tasty pasta because my husband decided to be adventurous, which let me finally give it a try. I filled my Copycat Catalog with spot-on recipes so you can recreate your usual order or discover a new favorite that tastes as good (if not better) as the restaurant!
Can this be made ahead?
You can make some parts of this recipe ahead of time but I would suggest breading the chicken and cooking everything all at once. This will give you the crispiest coating and the best flavor since cooking it all in the same pan builds the flavors. Combine the sauce ingredients and make the dry breading mixture and keep them in separate containers in the fridge. This will save you a bit of prep time when you actually start making dinner.
Homemade Cajun Spice Blend
If you have a cabinet full of spices and you’re looking to make your own Cajun spice mix, here is an easy Cajun Spice Blend!
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
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Needs more Cajun seasoning and vegetables than the recipe gave. I’d slice it up more maybe add some blackening spice and definitely more veggies
Sounds like you enjoy some “heat” in your Louisiana Chicken Pasta! Thank you for trying the recipe!
This is my husbands favorite dish at cheesecake factory so when I found this recipe I was so excited. This was so good!!! My husband said it was better than the restaurant. Definitely will be making this again.
This recipe was fabulous! It tasted even better than the restaurant!!!!! The instructions were super easy to follow. I know for myself when making a multi-step meal like this, it takes me a long time. For me, it was 90 minutes from beginning to end. Will definitely make this again! My family of 5 loved it!
Thanks Laura! And thank you Laura for the 5 star “vote of confidence”!!
This was really good. I used bread crumbs that had Parmesan in it also! I doubled recipe for guests to take home. Also added a little more red pepper for the heat. This is a keeper.
So glad you enjoyed the recipe and thanks Carolyn, for the 5 star review!
This was pretty good. The instructions were easy to follow and it was simple to make. My husband and I both liked it. Made as instructed except halved the recipe. Will make again.
I made this Sunday exactly as written. It is delicious. Great as leftovers tool ??
Made this tonight for dinner, exactly as written. My husband said it was outstanding! I agree. Will make again.
Outstanding is a great review! Since you enjoyed this Cheesecake Factory copycat recipe I thought I’d forward this link to you for our other Cheesecake Factory copycat recipes on the site! https://dinnerthendessert.com/?s=cheesecake+factory
Thank you Patrice, for the 5 star rating. Means a lot.
Loved this recipe! Super easy & very flavorful. Not sure why some would be confused ? thanks for sharing!
Thank you Jeannette!
Obsessed with this dish. Always come back to it.
Cooked this last night and it was a big hit with my family. Followed recipe to a t. I never change anything until I try it. Nothing will I change in this one. It’s perfect. I am 80 years old but still cook daily. Thanks.
Good for you Judy! Glad your family enjoyed the recipe!
Absolutely delicious
Forgot to rate!! Five stars ??????????
I made this recipe last night. The flavors are amazing. My only change was substituting vegan parmesan cheese. Thank you for the recipe
Amazing and easy to follow recipe! I made it for my husband for Father’s day, since it’s his favorite and the only cheesecake factory near us is 45 minutes away. It came out delicious and way better than the one at the restaurant!! Thanks so much!
Thank you Ashley! Glad you had a tasty Father’s Day!
Absolutely love this recipe! 1000 times better than Cheesecake Factory! Will definitely make again. Thanks!
I have made this for the fam about five times now and it always turns out great. I’m not a great cook but I have this one nailed, my wife says it’s better than the restaurant, which is one of her favorites. I get recipes from here all the time, I appreciate you so much! Everything that I have executed correctly has been fantastic, and I’m always to blame when it flops, lol.
Thanks!
Hi Sabrina, Would you consider re-writing this post to reconcile steps 1 and 13? One would imagine that you’re not suggesting to add cooked chicken and pasta to cold chicken stock, cream and unmelted cheese that have been set aside on the counter top. Please advise. This looks really good and I’d like to try it. Thanks in advance!
My chicken stock is room temperature as a general rule, but the cream is sitting out while I prepare the recipe, no need to warm the ingredients before adding, it’s an extra step you don’t need. I promise it will create a beautiful sauce.
No you add the uncooked, set aside sauce, to add in with your cooked veggies and pasta. Bring it to a simmer and let it simmer until it thickens. Then you have the sauce, veggies and pasta in one thickened dish. Then you add the crispy cooked chicken on top.
We loved this. Had the perfect amount of flavor and spice.
This is so delicious! I actually would rather have my homemade dish than the one from the restaurant! The whole family love it!
Lots of ingredients and steps but so worth it. My whole family loved it! Will make it again and again.
Tried this recipe and im very impressed how delicious and similar this tastes to the restaurant!
Love this
Turned out pretty good! Left the mushrooms out and added some Cajun to the chicken breading. Chicken was super crispy even though I did the coating backwards. I made the recipe for 3 and still have soooo many leftovers. Will definitely try this recipe again!
So good! We will definitely make it again!
Love this recipe! Tastes about as close to the original as you are gonna get! Makes a large amount too. Definitely a keeper! Thanks for the recipe.
Love this! Will be making it again! My sauce came out creamy white. Anyone else?
Mine does too but still so so good!
For the sauce, is it really 1 cup shredded parmesan as indicated or 1 cup grated? I used a cup of grated because that was all I had and it came out great but I want to be sure for next time.
Grated is for the breading, shredded is for the sauce.
Making this for the second time for my husband’s birthday. He loved it. What’s a good side dish with this?
I’d add a salad with it
Used this exact recipe, came out great my family loves it! Just added garlic breadsticks ?
Holy cow!! This is spot on!! I love the Cheesecake Factory original. This totally hits that spot I’ve been missing!! It also makes SO MUCH!! I didn’t even need to use half the cream sauce so I have enough to make a whole other batch!!! Thank you so much!! I will be keeping this one in my favorites!!
This is a household staple! For everyone confused about the sauce.. mix it up in the beginning & set aside. Once you move to combine the veggies & pasta, then you throw it in. Mix it up & let it simmer/thicken! Delicious!!
I’m confused by this recipe, as others have commented. When we mix the sauce ingredients together in the beginning, do we not cook it? What exactly do we do with the sauce?
If you read the directions thoroughly they aren’t confusing. I try reading a new recipe 3 times before I make it so I don’t run into the same problem. You cook the sauce last.
This was delicious!!! I added more cheyanne pepper and cilantro ! But everyone loved it and it taste like the real version. I would add Cajun seasoning to chicken so it taste less bland
I followed this recipe to a T. I must say that every recipe I have followed off of Pinterest has been amazing and I have never had a complaint until this one. The directions in this recipe are very confusing. I have never been so disappointed in a Pinterest recipe. I feel that this was a waste of money any time. I see that other people love it and it turned out but I feel that it is just terrible I’m sorry for the negative comment but I don’t see how all of the comments are positive.
No you add the uncooked, set aside sauce, to add in with your cooked veggies and pasta. Bring it to a simmer and let it simmer until it thickens. Then you have the sauce, veggies and pasta in one thickened dish. Then you add the crispy cooked chicken on top.
I’m confused on the sauce, in the beginning it say to combine all ingredients and set aside. Are you saying not to cook it. Then it says to combine the sauce with the vegetables and pasta and then let it thicken. So when you say to set the sauce ingredients aside it is not cooked yet or do you go ahead and cook it and then set ît aside.
They are saying to mix the ingredients and then set them aside to later mix them into the pasta.
There is no way she’s saying to add cold chicken stock and cream that have been set aside on the counter. I e would have to ensure that the ingredients are heated and the cheese is melted before adding. I’m a good cook but sauces are not my forte, I’d like clearer instructions as a few others stated.
My chicken stock is room temperature as a general rule, but the cream is sitting out while I prepare the recipe, no need to warm the ingredients before adding, it’s an extra step you don’t need. I promise it will create a beautiful sauce.
I’ve made this before and it was absolutely amazing, I don’t see how anyone can mess this up.
No you add the uncooked, set aside sauce, to add in with your cooked veggies and pasta. Bring it to a simmer and let it simmer until it thickens. Then you have the sauce, veggies and pasta in one thickened dish. Then you add the crispy cooked chicken on top. ?
i tryed this last night. it was really goooooood. If my picky son ate it and said let me have more. I know it was really gooooood. i took one of my co-worker some to try. two more of them ask for some of her’s. they all tryed an asking for the recipe.
this recipe is a KEEPER.
Love to hear this Felicia!
We’ve loved this recipe for years but I’ve never left a review – figured I should! It is delicious! I agree with others about the time it takes. It’s definitely closer to double what this says. However, it is always so yummy that it is worth an hour to make it! We actually ordered this at CF and thought the homemade version what MUCH BETTER!!!
Wow Amber, thanks!
Sauce was very good and pretty close to the real thing, but chicken was not.
Something is missing from the chicken- maybe CF fries in butter? Maybe they add another spice or more salt?
Not sure. Followed directions to the t and my chicken just tasted bland/like typical cutlets I usually make.
Going to use this as a base recipe and will keep experimenting to get the chicken closer to CF.
One other concern- as others have commented- the time it took to make it was double what this recipe says. I cut veggies quickly, flour/egg/breadcrumbed chicken quickly (I do this often so it’s a no brainer), took me well over an hour to make. I’m glad I saw the other comments because we had to be somewhere after dinner and we wouldn’t have made it if not.
Still very good, 3 stars.
Even with the little modifications I had to make (I had no chicken broth so I used a water/butter/spice mixture as well as cheated with pre-made chicken strips) this recipe was delicious! I can only imagine how good it will be when I get to make it properly. I live 4 hours and a border crossing from the nearest Cheesecake Factory so being able to make it at home is going to be amazing! Thanks for sharing this recipe, I’ll definitely have to pass it along
Thank you, Kyra!
Love this recipe. Would u recommend using a crated parmesan cheese?
I make this alllll the time and my boyfriend is obsessed with it! He has never had the cheesecake factory version but is already convinced this is better because of how amazing it is.
This was INCREDIBLE. Tastes almost exactly like at the Cheesecake Factory! However I think 35 mins is definitely pushing it as it took me over an hour to make. But sooo worth it!! I added a little bit of tomato sauce in the end to make it a little less creamy and it was delicious! Thank you so much, I can’t wait to try all your other recipes
Thank you so much Amelia!!
I have never had the Cheesecake Factory version so I can’t compare but this was absolutely delicious. Will most definitely make it again.
This is one of those recipes that I truly couldn’t believe I had made. It is literally restaurant quality. I have never ordered this from the Cheesecake Factory to be able to compare this recipe to, but WOW, the flavor was immense and delicious.
So good! Made this last weekend for my family and it was fabulous. So happy with the results.
This recipe is so good. It was very easy to make as well.
I wish I could give this recipe more stars. This is a hit every time I make it! My mom is a great cook so I get a bit intimidated when I cook for her. Let’s just say she had seconds and maybe even thirds of this delicious dish! Tastes straight from the restaurant. Thank you for sharing!!
Wow!! Thank you so much!!
Thank you so much for sharing the recipe! It was absolutely just as delicious, if not slightly better because I cooked my noodles longer then they typically do. Will be a go to when I’m in the mood for pasta. I can’t wait to try more of your recipes. Thanks again!!!
I made this for my family and everyone loved it. We go to cheese cake factory just to get this and now we will make it at home from now on. Love love love
My son and I worked together to make this for dinner. It was very delicious—no doubt. As far as the prep and cooking times go—it definitely took more like an hour with two people sharing the prep. We did make our own Cajun seasoning. We will definitely make this again, but probably not on a work day. Again, it was DELICIOUS and worth every bit of effort.
Love the flavors of this recipe! I ended up taking 2 large chicken breasts & cutting them up into 1” chunks, salt & peppering them and sautéed them on md till cooked with no breading. Putting the chicken aside. I added chicken andouille sausage till warmed and put that aside. Trader Joe’s has a great frozen yellow, red pepper sliced combo so I added that. I did 1/2 cup heavy cream and 1/2 & 1/2 for the rest. I held off on the red pepper flakes as I was also feeding my 3 boys. This dish was amazing and super easy.
Thanks for all of the feedback, Kelly. I appreciate the 5 stars.
When adding the chicken stock is it just the cube I add or after I’ve mixed the cube with water??
If you’re using cubes, you’ll want to make the stock by adding water as well. Enjoy!
I love this recipe it’s sooo good! I’ve made it a handful of times the only thing I do is take out the red onions and add more cream for the sauce. I also double up on the mushrooms and peppers. It’s a family favorite and a different take on pasta. I can eat leftovers for days.
Good tasty recipe but the overall cook time took well over 1 hr and 20 minutes for one person. I am not a professional cook by any means but I consider myself to be pretty good.